The NBL is continuing to impress in Australia with the league gaining more respect worldwide as a genuine breeding ground of top basketball talent.
With recent NBA draftees LaMelo Ball, Josh Giddey and RJ Hampton doing their apprenticeships in the Australian league, the competition has seen consistent growth that’s lead to expansion with both the South East Melbourne Phoenix and Tasmania JackJumpers.
As the Phoenix and JackJumpers are looking like success stories early into their existence, the question has been posed whether the league should continue to expand and grow their footprint.
News Limited’s chief basketball writer Matt Logue joined SEN 1170 Mornings to discuss the topic and where the league was considering placing new franchises.
“Obviously, this season we’ve had the Tasmania JackJumpers join the NBL,” Logue said.
“They return after the Tassie Devils played in the 90s.
“In the last 12 months alone, on the back of the Boomers’ success and the NBL continuing to rise, league headquarters have received multiple expressions of interest from business people around the nation (about expanding).
“Potentially there’s a second Sydney team, also Queensland and the ACT is an interesting one.”
While the NBL has received considerable interest regarding expansion, Logue says they’re taking a patient approach to ensure they don’t overreach too early.
“At this point the league isn’t in a rush, they want to do this properly,” Logue said.
“But we’ve seen with the South East Melbourne Phoenix and they’re now into their third season and they’re right up there as competition heavyweights, but the JackJumpers are in their first season and they’ll take their time.
“The NBL don’t want to rush it, but they’ve got interest and a lot of options to expand, with how the league is going, there’s no reason why it can’t.”
According to Logue, he believes a second team in Sydney would be the wise move having looked at the success of the local rivalry now between the Phoenix and Melbourne United.
“I think a second Sydney team would be great,” he said.
“At the moment there’s a rule until 2024 that there can’t be another team because the Kings have a lock out that they’re the only team (in the city).
“It’s important that the Kings need to get back where they were winning championships before a second Sydney team is included.
“But, it’s proven, look what the AFL has done with the Swans and Giants.
“Western Sydney is a huge growth area, so I think a second Sydney team would work.
“For mine, I think it’s Sydney.”
Listen to the full chat here.